Birding on the Metolius River

female Western Tanager with Fall Caddisfly

Yesterday we stopped mid-day to walk and bird the Metolius River in the Camp Sherman area.  It was a strange feeling to be on the trails of the Metolius River for the sole purpose of bird watching.  Over the past 45 years I have been there for so many other reasons; camping, fishing, hiking, biking, and backpacking. To see the river through the lens of birding gave me a new appreciation.  The ice cold spring fed waters of the Metolius River provide not only a good habitat for fish, but also nourish a rich riparian zone along its banks which support a wide diversity of birds. We did a loop hike, parking the motorhome in the parking lot of the former Allingham Guard Station and walking up the East Metolius Trail to Camp Sherman and back on the West Metolius Trail.  Our timing was perfect to make our lunch stop for a traditional sandwich at the Camp Sherman Store. 

Townsend's Solitaire

Identification of the Townsend's Solitaire, a member of the Trush Family, took a bit of head scratching as it's a bird we haven't seen in some time. 

American Dipper

This bird of the water world, with it's delightful melody of song, was the first bird that caught our attention yesterday.  

Our camping destination for the night was the Deschutes County Fairgrounds RV Park in Redmond, and today we travel on to Shelvin Park in Bend for the real purpose of our weekend trip, the wedding of niece Bethany Scott to Nathan Keeley.